List of all U-boats

U-180

Type

IXD1

Ordered

28 May 1940

Laid down

25 Feb 1941

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1020)

Launched

10 Dec 1941

Commissioned

16 May 1942

Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg

Commanders

16 May 1942	-	4 Jan 1944	FrgKpt. Werner Musenberg
Oct, 1943	-	7 Nov 1943	Oblt. (R) Harald Lange
2 Apr 1944	-	23 Aug 1944	Oblt. Rolf Riesen

Career
2 patrols

16 May 1942	-	31 Jan 1943	4. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1943	-	1 Nov 1943	12. Flottille (active service)
1 Apr 1944	-	23 Aug 1944	12. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 13,298 GRT

Fate

Missing since 23 Aug 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Bordeaux, France in approximate position 44.00N, 02.00W.

Her loss to mines as listed in many sources is not very likely. 56 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-180 - View the 2 war patrols

General notes on this boat

27 Apr 1943.

U-180 met I-29 in the Indian Ocean to transfer two Indian Nationalists to the Japanese submarine, one of whom was Subhas Chandra Bose. I-29 put both men ashore at Sumatra.

Fregkpt. Werner Musenberg, commander of U-180, and Subhas Chandras Bose.

There is an interesting video on Youtube concerning this incident (among other things).

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in April 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-180 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.